Right-Wing Notes

There has been a lot of political commentary about Republican "soul searching" over the past week, most of it constructive, but will the party take heed?

From Alex Koppelman at The New Yorker:

Conservatives have constructed a myth that says certain groups—blacks, Hispanics, women, young people—vote Democratic because they're stupid, because they're lazy, and because they can be purchased with trinkets and baubles. It'd be one thing if they kept that myth a secret, but instead they shout it from the rooftops. Then, when it's over, they wonder why those people voted Democratic again.

In order to remain a viable party with whom people from all groups can identify with, the right-wing needs to change their inherently disdainful view of the electorate in general. Sounds logical, no?

Not so fast. Apart from a few surprising comments by Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour and Kelly Ayotte – and one might doubt their overall sincerity in the scheme of things – an entire political party cannot change their collective views overnight and expect people to find them credible. Republicans are likely hoping the American populace will forget the nasty sling-fests of 2012 by the time the next election rolls around, thus confirming their opinion of the public as a horde of idiots with no memory retention. However, it's doubtful that today's media will let them forget.

From Jindal:

The Republican Party is going to fight for every single vote. That means the 47 percent and the 53 percent…We've got to make sure that we are not the party of big business, big banks, big Wall Street bailouts, big corporate loopholes, big anything. We cannot be, we must not be, the party that simply protects the rich so they get to keep their toys.

Maybe there is optimism for the party if they can make good on some sort of change over the next four years, but I have my doubts they will take the opportunity to really connect with the American people in general. It's just not part of their identity makeup.

And lastly, from Eugene Robinson:

I know it's early, but I have a sinking feeling the Republican Party is taking all the wrong lessons from last week's election. Step out of the echo chamber, Republicans. There's a big country out there, and it's trying to tell you something. For the sake of party and nation, try listening.

Let's hope they do.

Tenderfoot Slash

Here's a novel idea: Let's cap congress/senate salaries at 40K per year; limit their pension amounts and force them to find and pay for their own medical insurance coverage instead of sponging off the taxpayer.

Who'd run for office then? Only those truly motivated by the needs of their voting districts.

To the Curb

The current sense of glee from certain members of the GOP is a bit premature, if you ask me. Most right-wing numb-nuts think the retirement of several key Democrats in government signals their death knell in the next election.

I have a different position on recent events. The general public is tired of the non-action in Washington, period. It doesn't matter if representatives are Democrat or Republican at this point. When the business of the nation is stalled because of pure obstructionism and self-interest, no one really cares about the nature of the party anymore.

Prediction: Come election time, I believe most incumbents will lose their seats because of their non-accomplishment and newly-elected officials will reflect the opposite party of their opponents.

Put simply, the "people" are sick and tired of being treated like idiots and receiving nothing in return from the people they voted into office. It's time to kick the bums to the curb, no matter how long they have held their privileged seats.

Telling Census

Take a look at the new MSNBC/Newsvine Poll:

• When town halls go wild -- who comes out looking the worst?

As of 11:30 a.m. today, 52.3% of poll-voters think "A Republican Party/conservative movement -- less than seven months removed from the White House – is stoking anger in hopes it will return them to power."

Trickle of Acuity

CNN's "report card" on the second one hundred days of the Obama administration is interesting. Almost every category in the report – including the behavior of the media – received poor to failing grades.

However, "votes" submitted to form the report card were cast by a minuscule portion of the population so it's hard to take the statistics too seriously. For example, only 8,384 people voiced their opinion on President Obama's second one hundred days in office (rendering a C+ average grade).

Other "grades" included the performance of the Democratic Party in Congress (57% in the right direction based on 1,010 votes) and Republican leaders in Congress (53% in the wrong direction based on 1,010 votes).

As for President Obama personally, 72% of 1,026 votes indicate he inspires confidence while 53% felt he has clear plans for solving the country's problems.

The report card perhaps gives a hint of public evaluation, although I would be more apt to take it seriously if the number of participants numbered in the millions rather than the thousands.